NOW that the Tory Government has once again increased National Health prescription charges to £5.50 per item, what will be next - dental and optical care? What has happened to the once 'free' NHS?

People do not mind paying reasonable amounts for prescriptions, but they are being ripped off by exorbitant prices and are still having to pay National Insurance contributions.

Prescription charges have gone up 27 times since the Tories came into power in 1979 and by 10 times the rate of inflation.

This again affects the aged, infirm and sick. It has been proven that most medications are not expensive - it's the administration that costs a fortune. As we draw closer to the General Election, watch the Conservatives once again promise tax reductions or saving incentives. They are so predictable.

But, in the meantime, people have to put up with declining health services and other things that the Tories have made a mess of. Do people in this country have such short memories?

H W FOGARTY (Mr), The Crescent, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.